New bovine coronavirus vaccine reduces respiratory diseases – The Scottish Farmer

The live vaccine, Bovilis Nasalgen, can be used for the active immunisation of calves from the day of birth to reduce clinical signs of upper respiratory tract disease and nasal viral shedding from infection with BCoV.

Speaking at a vaccine launch briefing, Dr. Paul Burr, vet, and director of Biobest Laboratories commented: "BCoV is well-established as a cause of neonatal calf diarrhoea. However when present in the respiratory tract, BCoV increases the risk for BRD in calves, resulting in respiratory infections with histopathological lesions and clinical signs.

Dr Paul Burr from Biobest Laboratories

"BCoV is frequently isolated, research has shown that BCoV infection disturbs the protective mucus lining of the thoracic tract3," he added.

Respiratory disease in UK calves is widespread and comes at a high cost from an emotional and business productivity perspective. Its a classic iceberg disease and one that is continually highlighted as a critical area for the overuse of antibiotics. Despite this background, there is an underuse of vaccination in the UK cattle sector.

"Recent UK studies show bovine coronavirus being the most prevalent virus found in routine disease screening and nasal swab samples taken during a bovine respiratory disease outbreak. BCoV was found in 39% of more than 400 nasal swab samples taken between 2020 and 2022 from BRD-affected cattle on UK farms," quoted Dr. Paul Burr.

Also speaking at the webinar was the veterinary adviser with MSD Animal Health, Dr Kat Baxter-Smith: "Research on 59 UK farms known to have had a history of BRD issues conducted by MSD Animal Health reported 91.5% of farms being positive for BCoV.

Dr Kat Baxter-Smith from MSD Animal Health

"Whilst the pathogenicity of BCoV within the BRD complex remains an unknown quantity, its ubiquitous presence in the UK cattle population and the recent human experience of coronavirus as a significant respiratory pathogen suggests a need for a re-evaluation of BRD control by vets and farmers," she added.

"Just as coronavirus is a pathogen associated with the common cold and COVID-19, BCoV is a proven pathogen that directly impacts the calf respiratory tract. Consequently, the availability of this new BRD vaccine presents veterinary professionals with another tool in their armoury to improve control of this costly disease.

If diagnostics suggest BCoV is implicated in any BRD problem, the availability of Bovilis Nasalgen allows UK cattle farmers to effectively administer protection for young calves via a single 2ml intranasal dose that can quickly reach the site of action. This will support the development of immunity against BCoV early in life, the onset of which starts five days after administration and has a 12-week duration.

Dr Baxter-Smith concluded: "Bovilis Nasalgen comes with valuable administration flexibility in that it can be used on the same day with Bovilis INtranasal RSP Live, which offers protection against both Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus (BRSV) and Parainfluenza-3 Virus (Pi3)."

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New bovine coronavirus vaccine reduces respiratory diseases - The Scottish Farmer